HAY DRYING MACHINES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1621, 23 November 1882, Page 3

HAY DRYING MACHINES.

The frequent recurrence of wet seasons has, says the 'A 7.A 7 . Z* Country Journal, driven the English hay growers to devise machines for performing the work of drying, which, in' ordinary seasons, is accomplished by Nature's sun and wind. There are several machines in the field — one known as " The Neilson Hay Dryer," another called the " Harvest Fan," &c, &. The following letter addressed to the Fttnncn' Gazette, will convey to our readers a tolerably accurate description of the machines and how they are worked :—: — THK MSILfcOX HAY DRYER. Sir, — There is a machine at work in a field near me, the property of the Rev. Mr Hamilton, which promises to be the most valuable implement ever'introduced into Ireland. It is the invention of Mr Neilson, an Kngh'sh gentleman, and its object is to enable hay to be ricked in a damp state, and in almost any weather. I myself saw a rick that I was infoimed was put up damp, but which was, when I saw it, almost the sweetest hay I ever smelt. In the same field there were other ricks in different stages, one being about half made of the most sodden grass (I cannot call it hay) I ever saw. Another close by, and which appeared to be made of just as wi etched stuff", was in a fit state for behu' operated on. I examined the theimomcter, which is inserted in the ceutie of the stack, through a pipe laid for that purpose*, and found it to register 16S. I watched the machine at woik for half an hour, and then the thermometer stood at 1 34, so that the machine lowered the temperature at rather more than a degree a minute. But it was not only iieat that was extracted, for first a dense steam, and then water came out of the mouth of the machine in a small rill. It is worked like a winnowing machine, w Inch it somewhat resembles, and is connected to a chimney built up the centre of the stack with the help of a stuffed sack by 9-inch drainage pipe lot into the ground. The whole is so simple, and the result so satisfactory, that I trust every agricultural society in the country will at once introduce it into their sc\eral localities. The one I saw at w ork was capable of cooling and drying a lick of 25 tons ; its co&t was £12. lam informed that at the Reading show theie were some as low as £5 suitable for small farms. — J.W.G.